Alaska’s Tobacco Quit Line

Alaska’s Tobacco Quit Line is a statewide toll-free telephone helpline for tobacco cessation support. The Quit Line was established in 2002 as a part of Alaska’s Tobacco Prevention and Control Program run by Alaska’s Department of Public Health. The Quit Line is staffed by trained nurses 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and provides free one-on-one telephone counseling, information on how to quit, and referral services. In 2005, the program made free nicotine replacement therapy available to callers. Current tobacco users who call the helpline receive an assessment of their readiness to quit, a customized quit plan, problem solving advice, cessation aids, referral services, and relapse prevention assistance.

The goal of Alaska’s Tobacco Quit Line is to help Alaska residents quit smoking or using smokeless tobacco.

In a survey of first-time Quit Line callers, 38.9% had quit smoking at a 3-month follow-up, and 39.4% had quit using smokeless tobacco. These rates are higher than comparable quit line programs in other states. Most participants (91%) were satisfied overall with the program, 98% would suggest the program to others, 94% were satisfied with the Quit Line nurse, and 94% thought that the information provided in the quit kit was useful. Nearly all participants (97%) reported that they were always treated respectfully during their interactions with Quit Line staff.